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Home  »  A Treasury of War Poetry  »  At St. Paul’s: April 20, 1917

George Herbert Clarke, ed. (1873–1953). A Treasury of War Poetry. 1917.

Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley

At St. Paul’s: April 20, 1917

NOT since Wren’s Dome has whispered with man’s prayer

Have angels leaned to wonder out of Heaven

At such uprush of intercession given,

Here where to-day one soul two nations share,

And with accord send up thro’ trembling air

Their vows to strive as Honour ne’er has striven

Till back to hell the Lords of hell are driven,

And Life and Peace again shall flourish fair.

This is the day of conscience high-enthroned,

The day when East is West and West is East

To strike for human Love and Freedom’s word

Against foul wrong that cannot be atoned;

To-day is hope of brotherhood’s bond increased,

And Christ, not Odin, is acclaimed the Lord.